Conservative GOP primary voters likely to like Perry's positions

Star-Telegram ^ | July 2, 2011 | Dave Montgomery

[Cincinatus' Wife]

AUSTIN - The just-concluded 82nd Legislature has armed Gov. Rick Perry with a host of red-meat issues to present to conservative Republican voters if he jumps into the wide-open presidential primary race.

But analysts say some of those issues could carry consequences down the road in reaching broader constituencies in a general election match-up against President Barack Obama.

Texas' longest-serving governor burnished his conservative profile with legislative victories that included a no-tax budget with $15 billion in cuts, property rights protections, voter ID legislation and a bill requiring sonograms before abortions.

Two other Perry-backed issues - an immigration measure to ban so-called sanctuary cities and legislation to prohibit intrusive airport pat-downs - could also enhance the Texas governor's stature among conservative activists though they ultimately died in the Legislature.

Even without declaring, Perry is becoming an early favorite among Tea Party activists for his adherence to limited government and his verbal assaults on Washington. Sabato's Crystal Ball, an online analysis headed by much-quoted political observer Larry Sabato of the University of Virginia, places Perry in the top tier of 11 announced and unannounced candidates. The Texas governor ranked number three, behind former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Congresswoman Michele Bachmann of Minnesota...........

[af_vet_rr]

My family was just here from Texas and said Perry has destroyed the education system in Texas. Can you give me some feedback on what they are talking about?

Perry supported No Child Left Behind and even publicly bragged that NCLB was modeled in part on Texas schools. Perry supports more control of schools at the state and federal level.

[CowboyJay]

"He supported a pro-abortion candidate in 2008 for President."

Quite right. Yet another indicator of just how shallow the man's conservative 'credentials' are. Why, if one didn't know better, you'd think he's just been occasionally putting on conservative airs to get elected.

[Lexinom]

I do know that Michele has been absolutely crystal clear on this point.

[tsowellfan]

In the US, people can move between states at any point for any reason.

Very true! But the people I'm talking about (50,000 of them) were not "'moving' between states" they were being moved at the invitation of the Texas Governor.

[tsowellfan]

I think we should draft Maine Governor Paul LePage. He’s not afraid to tell Obama where to go.